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Goolwa Channel & tributaries

Monitoring locations in the Goolwa Channel and tributaries

Monitored parameters

Alkalinity

What is alkalinity?

Alkalinity is a measure of the buffering capacity of water, or the capacity of the water to neutralise acids and resist pH change. It is expressed in milligrams per litre as calcium carbonate (mg/L as CaCO3). Alkalinity is produced in the water predominantly by weathering of carbonate minerals (like limestone) in the catchment.

Alkalinity fluctuations

Alkalinity tends to increase in the main Lower Lakes water body when inflows to the River Murray are low. Alkalinity decreases in the Lower Lakes during flood inflows from the River Murray and tributaries which are dominated by rainwater with low alkalinity levels. Alkalinity can be reduced or completely consumed as acid is released from acid sulfate soils which have become exposed and then been rewet. Alkalinity was consumed when the Currency Creek region acidified during the 2008 - 2009 drought period.

Limestone dosing was required in Currency Creek to combat the acidity generated in the region. Two regulators were installed to manipulate water levels and manage acid sulfate soils.

Past alkalinity levels

Historically, alkalinity levels within this region have been between 80 and 250 mg/L as CaCO3. During the 2007-2009 hydrological drought, alkalinity was high in the main lake water body but was very low or completely disappeared at some locations on the lake margins.

pH

What is pH?

pH is an indicator of acidity or alkalinity. pH is a logarithmic scale and an increase or decrease of one pH unit is a 10 fold change. Neutral water has a pH of 7, acidic solutions have values between 0-6 and alkaline solutions have values between 8-14.

pH fluctuations

pH can increase when there are low inflows in the River Murray, and consequently minimal flushing of the Lower Lakes. pH can decrease during River Murray and tributary flood inflows as rainwater has a lower pH. pH can also decrease if exposed acid sulfate soils become rewet by rainfall or rising lake levels. Very low pH levels were experienced in the Currency Creek region due to acid sulfate soil exposure in the 2008 - 2009 drought.

Past pH levels

The pH in the Goolwa Channel and Tributaries region is typically between 7 and 9. During the 2007-2009 hydrological drought, acidic water (pH 2-4) was found in Currency Creek and the wetlands adjacent to Finniss River, following the exposure and rewetting of acid sulfate soils on margins of the Tributaries.

Salinity

What is salinity?

Salinity is a measure of the amount of dissolved salts in the water. Saline water conducts electricity more readily than freshwater, so electrical conductivity (EC, measured in micro siemens per centimeter) is routinely used to measure salinity.

Salinity fluctuations

As salinity increases, it may become harmful to native freshwater organisms. Salinity increases occur as water evaporates from the Lower Lakes (highest in summer) and also during times when inflows to the River Murray are too low to flush the salt out over the barrages and through the Murray Mouth. Salinity decreases occur when rain falls directly onto the Lower Lakes, and particularly during times of high inflows in the River Murray and Currency/Finniss tributaries which flush salt from the lakes via the Goolwa and other barrages.

Past salinity levels

Prior to the 2007-2009 hydrological drought, salinity was on average less than 1500 EC at Goolwa. During the 2007-2009 drought, levels reached 5000 to 35,000 EC across the Goolwa Channel and Tributaries. Seawater has a salinity of approximately 55,000 EC.

Total phosphorus

What is total phosphorus?

Total phosphorus (TP) is the total amount of phosphorus present in the water body. Phosphorus is a nutrient, and can be present in different forms (eg organic phosphorus, phosphate). High concentrations of nutrients typically indicate excessive growth of aquatic plants such as cyanobacteria, phytoplankton, macrophytes and filamentous algae.

Total phosphorus fluctuations

TP levels tend to increase during low flow periods as algae and other organic material accumulate when lake and tributary flushing rates are low. Higher flows tend to reduce TP levels as nutrients are flushed out over the barrages and through the Murray Mouth. The Lower Lakes have high TP levels but generally there are very low soluble nutrients. This indicates that algae rapidly take up any soluble nutrients.

Past total phosphorus levels

TP is on average about 0.1 mg/L in the Lower Lakes. Much higher total phosphorus levels (>0.2 mg/L TP) were recorded during the 2007-2009 hydrological drought due to the lack of flushing of the Lower Lakes.

Turbidity

What is turbidity?

Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness or murkiness in water caused by suspended solids (eg sediment, algae). Turbidity is expressed in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) and is measured using a relationship of light reflected from a given sample.

Turbidity fluctuations

Turbidity is very variable in the Lower Lakes and tributary regions and can change on short time scales due to wind events. High wind conditions and/or low water levels increase turbidity as fine sediments on the lake bed are disturbed and resuspended. Turbidity tends to decrease when River Murray inflows to South Australia are dominated by River Murray water opposed to Darling River water which is generally more turbid. High salinities, as found in the Goolwa channel and tributary region during the 2007 - 2009 drought period, and the absence of water management also encourage the settling of suspended sediment to the lake bed, reducing the turbidity of the water.

Past turbidity levels

Turbidity levels, on average, are about 50-80 NTU in the Lower Lakes; however, this value was often greater than 100 NTU during 2007-2009 due to the low water levels.